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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-01-19 Euless Articles arDISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT* 1 YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED ( / r l©I 0 DATE OFARTICLE 1 1 q / 0 NEWSPAPER DMN ' COMMUNITY CALENDAR RECREATION CENTER OPEN HOUSE:_ ' The Midway Recreation Center will have an open house from 9 a.m.to noon Saturday at the center,300 Midway.Drive in Euless.Attendees can ' enjoy a free day of fitness.Instructors will answer questions and teach free 15-minute classes.Tarrant County • Public Health will offer an interactive ' "Move and Groove"class along with public health screenings: ' CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING EVENT: The city of Euless will have its 18th annual Christmas tree recycling event from 9 a.m.to 1 p.m.Jan.13 at Midway ' Park,300 Midway Drive.The event will include-a tree mulching. demonstration,and bags of mulch and tree saplings will be given away o the public.The city uses the mulch to ' maintain city parks and medians. Residents may bring their own bag to fill with mulch for their gardens or flowers.Limit one bag per person. ' Residents may dispose of live Christmas trees only(with no ornaments or lights)at the designated area of Midway Park through Jan.13. ' For information,call 817-685-1650. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGEOF MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCF-AMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMI N LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED 111910 --) DATE OFARTICLE f ,/ 6 ! L -7 NEWSPAPER FWST nip niraQ Cheul S & ' Jeul a Jeers:To the Luless City Council for. adopting an ordinance that permits the ' municipal golf course and softball facil- ities to be charged only 50 cents per 1,000 gallons of water used(300 million gallons the past two years).Residents are ' charged$2.80 per 1,000 gallons. George Moore,Euless IDISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE/OF f MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY GRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT 'YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR / DATE DISTRIBUTED l l q I(-) DATE OFARTICLE //6) l () 7 NEWSPAPER FWST NORTHEAST TARRANT & AREA BRIEFS Business evacuated by firefighters EULESS-Firefighters evacu- F ated a business Friday afternoon after an employee discovered a., what authorities say looked like an artillery shell near a parking ' lot.No one was injured in the incident,which happened about 12:50 p.m.at Simtek Inc.in the 1500 block of Royal Parkway.An ' employee had discovered the object several days ago and left it near the parking lot but never reported it.Another employee found it Friday and called au- thorities."There was no history at that location for a shell to be there,"Euless fire investigator Vernon Gilmore said.At first, ' members of the Northeast Explo- sive Response Team used a robot to try to retrieve the object, but it was too heavy,authorities said.A member of the team then placed the object in a container.Au- thorities said they could not determine whether the object is ' a shell. It was to be examined by the Army,a fire official said. -Domingo Ramirez Jr. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF� MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT ' YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADM/IN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED l I .I� 0 --) DATE OF ARTICLE l/ ! NEWSPAPER DMN Euless officials declined to pre- Mr.Merced arrived from Puer- ' A clash over sent their side of the story,saying to Rico in-1990. He says at least they wouldn't comment on their four other Santeria families live in • • dispute with Mr. Merced,the in- Euless,and he estimates that there fi ee tentions of their ordinance or the could be as many as 6,000 follow- ritual sacrifice Supreme Court case because ofthe ers in North Texas. pending lawsuit.' "There's some in Bedford and The city's code says the law there's some in Hurst,'and some Santeria leader fights Euless ban on against slaughtering animals is in- are in Fort Worth," Mr. Merced killing of animals as affront to faith tended to promote "the health, said."They're everywhere.They're safety,morals and general welfare just scared of getting in trouble." By MICHAEL GRABELL of the city," "to protect property The complaints started after he Staff writer values"and"to enhance the quality became the only Santeria oba in EULESS - The room was set u with benchof life of persons, pets and other the region in 1999 and started per- p wes animals. forming rituals and holding gath- and shrines,the herbs,dried coconuts and eggshell The dispute has left many resi- erings at his house.Neighbors.be, chalk laid out on a table.With the preparations done, dents in the Dallas-Fort Worth ar- gan complaining to police about 10 church members sat by the pool behind the red- ea wondering: What is Santeria? cars blocking driveways, loud brick home on the cul-de-sac and drank beer. .How did it get to`Euless? And chanting,animal cries and smells. The next day,they would sacrifice a chicken to ini- where do you draw the line be- There have been many ceremo- . ► tiate a new member,using the energy in its blood to tween religious tolerance "and a nies at the house,but Mr.Merced communicate with the spirits,known as orishas. community's right to ban the kill- says he's conducted just two ani- But then Euless police knocked on the door. ing of animals?, mal sacrifices in the area, using The officers explained to the priest,Jose Merced, chickens and goats. that killing animals of any kind is illegal within the Loll ath to U.S. Long P The offerings are an essential Santeria, also known as Luku- part of the religion,considered so mi originated among the Yoruba sacred that Santeria would cease people in southwestern Nigeria to exist without them. Santeria thousands of years ago and came teaches that the orisha spirits, to the Caribbean through. the which emanated from God, can trans-Atlanticslave trade. manifest themselves only through It arrived in South Florida dur-, the energy contained in blood, ing the Cuban exodus ofthe1960s. which opens a channel of direct High priestsr or obas,like Mr.Pi-, communication with the orishas. chardo estimate that there are 3 The blood is also an essential million to 4 million followers in part of what makes a priest a the U.S. priest. — "This is not drinking blood,and "If you were to remove animal CHERYL DIAZ MEYER/Staff Photographer we don't sacrifice children," Mr. Santeria priest Jose Merced has filed a Pichardo said."It is an African re- offerings from ordination rites, [Santeria] would not have federal discrimination lawsuit against Euless, ligion that has its own central dog- priests,"Mr.Pichardo said. seeking to sacrifice animals in his rites. ma,its own bible.It is a pre-Chris- "Can we remove the ritualsym- tian religion. It has its own bolic cannibalistic act of drinking city limits.And Mr. Merced tried unsuccessfully to ceremonies.It has its own rituals." wine as Jesus Christ's blood?'he explain that animal sacrifice is as essential to his reli- But like other African religions asked. "You do that, you do not gion,Santeria,as the Eucharist is to Catholicism. that followed the slave trade,such have the ability of conducting a Now,Mr.Merced has filed a federal discrimina- as voodoo and•macumba, theChristian Mass:' .ri tion lawsuit against the city,thrusting the African- eriaace ican- practice of Sant '_takes place — - - outside the public eye, through After the ritual,the animals are Caribbean religion and the quiet cleaned,cooked in a stew and eat home worship instead of in a cen-s - suburb into the spotlight.And Mr. en during a feast. Merced has a U.S.Supreme Court tral temple."We don't do,it in a church be- Diversity in'Euless case supporting Santeria animal cause due to the trans-Atlantic sacrifice, indicating that Euless Euless isn't some hayseed Po- might have to compromise. slave trade and the diaspora,they dunk, ignorant of other cultures. "It appears that city officials are totally pulverized those kinds of. This is a town that rallies around either deliberately defying the Su- religious and social structures,„ its high school football team's preme Courtjustices on this ruling. Mr.Pichardo said. _ of-they're simply confused,” said Believers in Santeria came to Ernesto Pichardo,head ofthe San- Euless for the same reason many others did—its proximity to Dal- plaintiff religion h the U.S. and the las/Fort Worth International Air- Court in the 1993 Supreme port and,higher-paying jobs with Court case. the airlines. 1 1 DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE Cf? OF MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT 1 YOUNG MCDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRAR/YADMIIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED ` f l DATE OF ARTICLE I / /C) —2 NEWSPAPER DMN ' ANIMAL SACRIFICE IN WORLD RELIGIONS "If in the city,for yter o can- ANIMAL not kill animals for any reason,you can't kill them," he said. "But if Animal sacrifice has been used honor of Abraham's they allow any other exemption for in nearly all.the world's major willingness to slay his son at the killing of animals,then they're religions at some time. God's commandment and dead on arrival..". ■The Old Testament is rife God's providing ofa ram Euless' or does make with references to the sacrifice instead.The holiday,known as exceptions for rodent control. It of rams.Jews abandoned the Eid al-Adha,was celebrated also says the city can kill any ani ritual after the temple where last week. mal that has rabies or attacks an- sacrifices were performed was ■In Christianity,the crucifixion other animal or person., destroyed.The Torah` of Jesus replaced animal But the city also allows animals commands that sacrifices must sacrifice under the belief that to be euthanized at the local shel- be done in a place Jesus was the Lamb of God terforotherreasons:'` commanded by God,and no and his ultimate sacrifice And large gatherings around ' sacrifice can take place until a redeemed the world of its sins. the cooling of livestock are.not new one is designated. This sacrifice is that uncommon in Euless. ■Many Muslims commemorated in Mass with Since immigrating to Euless in commemorate the end of the the sacrament of the wafer and Hajj by sacrificing a sheep in wine. the early 1980s,the Tongan have _ celebrated holidays by roasting dancing of the haka- a Polyne- He said the sacrifice is donehu- pigs in a tradition similar to Ha- sian war dance that involves manelywith a sirgle puncturing of. wananluaus. ' chanting, chest-thumping and the carotid artery with a 4-inch The festivals by members of the tongue-flailing. knife.After cooping;the-.remains Tongan First United Methodist The city of about 50,000 peo- are thrown in the trash. lChvreh on Main Street sometimes ple has one of the highest concen- "If you go to a store and buy a volve as mahy as 15 pigs,said the ' trations of Tongans.in the U.S.and rotisserie chicken, you eat .the Rev.Alex Latu. Because few peo- a large percentage of Mexican im- meat, wfiere do you put the ple have freezers large enough to migrants. Almost 40 languages bones?"Mt Merced asked."Does fit a whole hog, sometimes"they ' are spoken in its elementary Kentucky Fried,Chicken have a go and buy them live and kill it in schools. special place to put the bones?" the back yard,"he said. "We are not narrow-minded, But city officials again told him Mr.Latu said city officials have:- and we certainly are not insensi- that any killing of animal's was expressed concern about outdoor' five to other cultures,"said Betty prohibited. roasting only during severe" Fuller,whose husband is related to, Mr:Pichardo,the bead priest in droughts.Tongan have complied the town's founders who migrated. the U.S.,has been down this road with the bum bans, he said. Pig' to Texas after the Civil War.` before.In 1992,he went before the roasting is a cultural tradition,not ' Ms.`'Fuller lives- four houses Supreme Court to challenge an or a religious one. I - down from the house where Mr. dinance in Hialeah,Fla.,prohibit- "We just learn as a minority to Merced performs the Santeria rit- ing the sacrifice of animals but cope and work with the communi- uals. She said she believes they're, ming exceptions for other kill- ty,not to stay and hide within our. entitled to their religious beliefs ings,such as fishing,hunting and own little four corners,"Mr tato but shouldn't be sacrificing ani- the euthanasia of pets. said. mals in a neighborhood.Years ago, With all nine justices concur- He said he's never heard of her'husband's ancestors slaugh-' ring,the Supreme Court ruled that` Santeria.He has no problem with ' tered pigs and chickens for food on the law was "gerrymandered" to People with different beliefs, but, the very same land. et Santeria. he said he generally associates ani "You would wring a chicken'sr.Mr.Pichardo said Mr.Merced's mal sacrifice with cults. neck and have it for Sunday din- lawsuit involving Santeria animal "It's a little bit strange,"he said. ' ner, and that was perfectly fine," sacrifice is the first he's aware of "If that's what they use for their re- Ms.Fuller said."That was back in since the high court decision. ligious rituals, it's OK. I don't the'30s and'40s,when there were But that ruling may not provide know if it will affect the whole only200 people living in Euless. community in the future. From . Pe P g� a clear victory for Mr.Merced,reli- time to time those kinds of reli- 'This is not out-in-the-country gious law experts said.Euless'or- ons turn out os be something Euless anymore." dinance has been on the books giise. I think they t want to since 1974 and wasn't created in eY might Legal debate response to Santeria followers.' have the city look at it." After the police confronted him Kelly Shackelford,head of the ' last May,Mr.Merced brought an- Plano-based Liberty Legal Insti- E-mail mgrabell®dallasnews.com other Santeria priest from Puerto tute,.said the suitwould probably Rico to meet with city officials. come down to whether the city en- forces its ban with no exceptions. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE I OF� MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT YOUNG McDONALD 11 .010 —) COLLIINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR / r 1 DATEDISTRIBUTED 1 / . 10 —) DATEOFARTICLE / /q /C) NEWSPAPER FWST Travis Eddie Kelsey IRVING—Travis Eddie Kelsey,65, died Saturday,Jan.6,2007. Funeral: 11 a.m. Thursday in Brown's Memorial Chapel.Burial:Oak Grove Memorial Gardens.Visitation:7 to 9 p.m.Wednesday. He was one of the owners of North Main Barbecue in Euless.He was.pre- ceded in death by a daughter, Leslie Kelsey. a Survivors: Wife, Susan Kelsey of Irving; daughter, Carrie Patchen and husband, Paul, of Arlington; stepson, William Burke and family of Forney;sis-, tern,Patricia Falk of St.Louis,Mo.,San dra Teague of McAlister,Okla.,and Lin- da Rowe of Bland,Mo.;and grandchil- dren, Matt "Sam," Rachel and Hope Patchen,all of Arlington. Brown's Memorial Funeral Home Irving,972-254-4242 y View and sign guestbook at` www.star-telegram-coin/obftuaries arY rrl W w .r W " ad IDISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE _L OF MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT 1 YOUNG MCDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADDMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED t/ I / �' DATE OF ARTICLE l /o NEWSPAPER FWST 'NORTHEAST & AREA BRIEFS Trash company, Teamsters still in contract talks Contract negotiations between Allied Waste ' in Fort Worth and Teamsters Union Local 767 will resume today,a union official said.Union workers plan to remain on strike until an agreement is reached,local president Wesley Jenkins said in a statement.About 100 union workers-drivers and helpers-walked off their jobs at Allied after the previous agree- ment expired Dec.10.Allied serves more than 25 communities in Tarrant and southern Den- ton counties,and trash collection in some areas has been delayed by the strike. But Allied says it is"fully operational." ' -Adrienne Nettles DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE V OFLA MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR 3 DATE DISTRIBUTED 09/07 DATE OF ARTICLE —7 NEWSPAPER FWST BRIEFLY Two town meetings slated for this month . EULESS—Residents can attend two forums this month to tell city officials what's on their minds.The city will host town meetings at 7 p.m.Thursday and Jan.25 at Euless City Hall,201 N. Ector Drive.It's an opportunity. .. to ask questions or make comments for the staff or council to respond,said Betsy Boyett, Communications manager.City officials will also address issues from the 160 responses the city received in a mail-in survey sent, in December.Staff will also make presentations about construction projects and the revamped Arbor Daze festival, —Jessica DeLeon .r mod oldrw .r art .ri wf I ad �riY IDISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF l MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCbAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT 1 YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARBER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATEDISTRIBUTED //R l V DATE OFARTICLE /// / l C NEWSPAPER DMN COMMUNITY CALENDAR. CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING EVENT: The city of Euless will have its 18th annual Christmas tree recycling event from 9 a.m.to 1 p.m.Saturday at ' Midway Park,300 Midway Drive.The event will include a tree mulching demonstration,and bags of mulch and tree saplings will be given away to the ' public.Free hot dogs and drinks will be served.The city uses the mulch to maintain city parks and medians. Residents may bring their own bag to fill with mulch for their gardens or flowers.Limit one bag per person. Residents may dispose of live Christmas trees only(with no ornaments or lights)at the designated ' area of Midway Park through Saturday. For information,call 817-685-1650.. 3 DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE ( OF / MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED �! I l DATE OFARTICLE l 1 NEWSPAPER DMN EULESS Apartment complex fire forces out 10 families About 10 families are in.new homes after a fire Wednesday at` the Westdale Hills apartment complex caused an estimated $500,000 in damage,a fire offi- cial said. Euless Fire Depart- . ment investigator Vernon Gil- more said a woman and her 5-year-old child were in an' apartment in the 1300 block of Monterrey Boulevard when the fire started around 11:30 a.m. The woman suffered minor inju- ries and was taken to a nearby hospital.No other injuries were od reported. Firefighters from Eu- less, Hurst, Bedford and Fort 1 Worth responded. Mr. Gilmore said that fire officials were still trying to determine the cause of the fire but that it appeared to have been accidental. From st¢„b'reports .�l r .i rri .r 1 DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF J MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT tYOUNG McDONALD COLLINSI BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYAD`MIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED 1 / ( � DATE OFARTICLE / I / C) NEWSPAPER FWST LESS Gln ed a artmentsdamage 'd In fire ' By ME ISSA VARGAS STARTELEGRAMSTAFF WRITER EULESS — Firefighters from Bedford, Euless, Hurst ! ` ' and Fort Worth worked for . P,i�,.Jhan an hour Wednesday morning to control a fire at the Muirfield Village Apartments in the Westdale Hills section of J, Euless. A 30-year-old woman with second-degree burns on her ; right arm was taken by ambu- lance to Harris Methodist H.E.B.hospital in Bedford.No ' other injuries were reported: " Damage$ was estimated at - „T CHINN ,$4,000 to $5,000. Officials are g STAR TELEGRAM/KELLEY Firefighters from four cities worked to control the blaze.A 30-year-old unsure what sparked the blaze, woman suffered second-degree burns on her arm. but they don't bejieve.it was in- ' wall of smoke, grabbed his "I have been here for over tentionally set, Euless inspec jacket and fled.He stood in the five years, and I have never for investigator Vernon parking lot,and shook his head seen anything like this," said ' Gilmore said Firefighters responded to as smoke began to billow from Jackson,whose apartment was the blaze at 11:36 a.m. at Mon-. his apartment windows. not damaged. terrey Boulevard and Pipeline ' Road. The woman was asleep when someone knocked on her door to tell her that the build- ing was on fire,Gilmore said. Thee woman's apartment . and the one above hers were charred and covered in black , soot. The blaze left a gaping hole in the south side of the building. Evacuated tenants watched firefighters hose ' down the carpet, couch and television in the woman's apartment. ' Other tenants were eventu- ally able to return to their homes. Resident Ebenezer Jackson, 53, said he was sleeping when he received a phone call.As he talked, he heard a woman screaming outside his apart- ment.He opened the door to a DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED I / 0 '-) DATE OFARTICLE �3 / NEWSPAPER FWST OLD ORDNANCE _ rr Shell found at firm dates to Civil War ■The round will be de- fused by the members of the shell could still contain black powder. Artillery shell found s the Northeast Explosive � �z; e ca f ,it still had a us ' Response Team. p at the W.Pipeline Rd. end of it," said Euless,fire in- By DOMINGO I vestigator Vernon Gilmore. RAMIREZ JR. The shell is of a type fired STAR TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER E Texas tat . from Parrott cannons during ! 6otfcoEtrse; k "w EULESS—A Civil War ar the Civil War,authorities said. II tillery shell found near a °`., No weapon was found with the i Regal Pkwy business parking lot may shell. ' have been the souvenir of a ,we don't know how it got Texas Confederate soldier or here," Gilmore said.. "It could 5 a collection item that was have just fallen from a wagon misplaced, a state Civil War traveling this area." expert said Friday. The -shell was reported The 20-pound shell was about 12:50 p.m. Jan. 5,in the old was found Jan.5. .r found Jan.5lying flat on some 1500 block of Royal Parkway. dirt near a parking lot on An employee had discov- ,Trinity Blvd. Royal Parkway, but authori- STAR-TELEGRAM/LAURIE L.WARD ered the shell several days ear- ties initially were not sure North Richland Hills Battalion lier while doing yard work and er it was an artillery Chief Charles Goggins holds the left it near the parking lot but i "8 whether round. 140-year-old shell. never reported it.Another em- sTAR-TE�EGRA►n A military official in- Or,Richey said,Civil War ployee found it on the ground, formed local authorities this collectors could have lost the and Simtek officials called au- At first,a robot was sent in, week that the 140-year-old shell in the area. thorities.; but the shell was too heavy for shell was a live round from A Civil War shell in good Firefighters evacuated the the robot to lift, authorities the Civil War era. condition could be worth business as explosives experts said.An explosives team mem- rr "There were several bat- $400 to$500. tried to remove the 20-p6und ' ber then grabbed the shell and tles fought on the Texas The live round was sched- shell. ` placed it in a container.; coast, but nothing around uled to be defused in a few Domingo Ramirez Jr.,817-685-3822 here," said Ray Richey, the days by the members of the ramirez@star-telegram-com curator of the Texas Civil Northeast Explosive Re- War Museum in White Set- sponse'Team, who retrieved tlement. "A few of the sol- it from property at Simtek .ri diers may have brought back Inc. some shells as souvenirs." Authorities believe that .r ,DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE 1 OF MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT 1 YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED_ V/9 DATE OF ARTICLE / 1 o NEWSPAPER FWST Vernice Ethel Gunter BURLESON—Vernice Ethel Gun- ter,78,went home to be with her Lord on Saturday,Jan.13,2007,in Burleson. Funeral: 1:30 p.m. Monday at Mount Olivet Funeral Chapel. Inter- ment: Mount Olivet Cemetery. Visita- tion:3 to 5 p.m.Sunday at the funeral home. Born Jan. 14, 1928, and raised in Fort Worth,she graduated as valedicto- rian of her class at Carter-Riverside High School: ' She met and married the love of her life,George Gunter,who preceded her in death in 2002 after 56 years of mar- riage. After her retire�r ent in 1985 from the city of Euless she and George moved to Burleson.for their remaining years to- gether. Survivors:She leaves behind son, Michael Gunter (Diane) of Bedford; daughters, Melinda Guinn (Ray) of Houston,Becky Murphy(Mike)of Stan- wood, Wash, Lori Warner (John) of Burleson;11 grandchildren;nine great- grandchildren, with two more due in March; brothers,J.W.`Buster"Under- wood(Mary Kay)of Burleson and Rob- ert"Bobby"Underwood(Pat)of Austin; special brother-in-law,Earl Miller of Cle- burne;and numerous nieces,nephews and other family members and friends who dearly loved and will greatly miss her. Mount Olivet Funeral Home 2301 N.Sylvania Ave.,831-0511 View and sign guestbook at ' www.star-telegram.com/ObRuaries DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED + /C �� d DATE OFARTICLE t/ I 0 NEWSPAPER FWST Willie Mae McCormick f e EULESS—Willie Mae McCormick passed away Saturday;Jan. 13,2007, at her home in Euless at the age of 98. ' Graveside 'service: 1 p.m. Wednesday in Pleasant Ridge Ceme- tery in Centerville.Visitation:The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m.Tuesday at Lucas Funeral Home,1321 Precinct ' Line Road in Hurst. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, Ms. McCormick had requested contribu- tions be made to the Euless Library or the Preservation I Committee which oversees the McCgrmick Barn which is on preservation site Donations may be sent to the city of Euless,in care of Mrs. Susan Crime,'Euless city secre- tary,201 N.Ector,Euless 76039: She was born Oct. 17, 1908,the sixth of nine children born to Lucy and Bill Ward in Leon County,, six,miles southeast of Centerville. Mrs. McCormick was married to Walter W. "Mac" McCormick in May 1929.Mr.McCormick preceded her in death in June 1995.To this,union was born one daughter,Elizabeth. Mrs. McCormick attended the first 10 grades of school in a one-room,two- teacher schoolhouse and graduated from Jewett High School.She entered the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in ,rY 1926 and graduated in 1929 with a ma- jor in chemistry and a minor in math. Mrs.McCormick was a member of First Baptist Church in Euless from 1948 un-' til her death.Sheworked for LTV for 20 years and retired in 1,973 as an engi- neer, She was elected to the city council in May 1973. . Survivors: Her daughter, Eliza- beth,who still lives on the originalfarm; grandchildren,Wanda Whitley and hus- band,Tommy„Jackie Olsen and hus- band,Gary and Billy Mack Wilcox;five great-grandchildren; four great-great- grandchildren. Lucas Funeral Home Hurst,817-284-7271 , View and sign guestbook at www.star-telegram.com/obftuar.ies USTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF l MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCAAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT YOUNG McDONALD J COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED l C� DATE OFARTICLE 1/� SJ l NEWSPAPER FWST BRIEFING ' MORE am IN GREATER,NORTHEAST TARRANT COUNTY ARE CRACKING DOWN ON UNINSURED MOTORM ' -- Is it working? Irving police spokesman David Tull said a vehicle out of a wrecker's lot.But some the department will need a couple of years drivers have found a way around.the prob- to know whether the plan is working.But lem. month-to-month towing figures show no "A lot of them,the insurance doesn't ' trend up or down.In June 2005,Irving last long,"said Andy Chesney,owner of became among the first cities to adopt a B&B Wrecker Service,which tows vehicles towing policy. for Bedford and Euless."They get insurance A smaller,more isolated city could see a for a couple of days." ' quicker response,but the Metroplex overall When Bedford started its towing policy, may never see much of a change in vehicles it asked its wrecker service to make the city towed,Tull said. aware if drivers are buying very short-term "You've got so many people coming to policies to pick up their vehicles. visit,on business,I don't know if you'll ever The system still needs tweaking. see a huge drop,"Tull said. Hurst resident Bill Dickson said his What happens If a motorist Is stopped grandson was involved in an accident in and doesn't have proof of Insurance? Bedford. ' .A`vehicle may not get towed if an officer, The mother of the other driver showed can confirm that a driver has insurance proof of insurance,but the insurance com- pany said she had not paid her premium for meets. several months.The Dicksons would have "We go out of the way not to tow,"said had to pay the repair bills if Bill Dickson had ' Bob Freeman,interim Euless police chief. not won the case in small-claims court... Bedford Deputy Police Chief.Roger "Just because someone has that slip, Gibson said the department wants its offi- that doesn't mean they necessarily have ti cers to exercise good judgment.For ex- insurance,"Dickson said: ample;a driver might have documents He would like for authorities to have a showing a history of policies,but none of database to look up proof of insurance on;, them current.The officer would be encour- the spot. aged to verify that the insurance is still Towing ordinances by city current. Here is when area cities began towing The department is also trying to speed vehicles and the number towed so far. p Bedford:September,98 vehicles u insurance verification,which can take 10 �> to 15 minutes. Euless:May,206 vehicles : ' "We're still tweaking our process,"Gib- Haltom City:June 2005,950 vehicles son said."It's an ongoing evolution for us." Irving:June 2005,3,636 vehicles Costs vary among communities if a North Richland Hills:January 2006,16D vehicle get towed. vehicles ' In Bedford,the ticket costs$253 for a Jessica DeLeon,417-685-3932' first offense and$658 for a second offense. idek0"@ -te1e9am rnm _ The wrecker fee is$125 plus mileage,and storage costs$21.65 a day;there's also a one-time$21.65 preservation fee. Irving fines motorists with no insurance $320. Motorists must also buy insurance to get I DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED // a 7 DATE OF ARTICLE �O l NEWSPAPER FWST FAST FOOD r 2 .Euless'-. btir_ . a agiers vVing for By ANDREA JARES tory.and details about food sznxLEGRnNSTAFF wxrrEx preparation.They;ll also try to —Forget about the Cowboys replicate perfectly filled or - Sixteen Whataburger ders coming in at full speed stores are headed to the Super while judges monitor every Bowl of burger making next move. month—and two are from Eu- Those judges will be less. looking at the. placement "They're only four miles of every pickle, how, much �+ `apart," said Patricia Russey,: chocolate getswhipped in- area manager for the restau- to each shake and how adept rants. the teams are 'at special or- Teams of 10 from the stores ders. will test their Whataburger, "We have to know the an- ` history knowledge and, swer before they -finish the french-fry-making expertise.,question,"Walker said. against others yin the biennial This will be the first time at "WQ have to know the answer before they finish the question." —Terry Walker,Whataburger store manager Whatagames, Feb ,17-18 in the Whatagames for both Houston. -' managers., 11 To get to this level;qualify-', At stake is a$5,000 prize to ing stores beat 548 other Wha- the manager and each team taburger teams. Stores were ! member, for a total $50,000, tested by mystery shoppers, plus$500 to their co-workers. health inspectors and random If he wins,Walker,a single calls. father of seven children under Alex Majano. of Arlington, age 19,said he plans to split his manager of the Whataburger $5,000 with his two assistant on Glade Road, said his team managers, both of whom will has spent hours each week on, work while their team com- rr„ details. How many ounces of Petes'in Houston. mustard per burger?How hot "To me, it's a team effort" is a properly cooked patty? Walker said. Also honing its knowledge Andrea7ares,817-685-3851 of the.'Corpus Christi compa- aiares@star-telegrarn.com ny is Terry,Walker's team at. Main Sireet and Airport Free- way. His big"weapon: Trinity High School student and fast- food aficionado Chad Cox. Participants will be asked questions about company his .ri 1 DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE I OF MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT 1 YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED ` / © � _7 U DATE OF ARTICLE NEWSPAPER FWST NORTHEAST TARRANT BRIEFS ' Dog, rabbit rescued from town-home ire EULESS—A fire scorched a ' town home in the 1300 block of EI Camino Real about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.No one was injured. Firefighters from Hurst and Eu- less arrived after numerous people tailed to report the fire and found smoke billowing out the front door,investigator Ver- non Gilmore said.A bystander had already broken down the door to check for people inside, bu' firefighters checked again and rescued a dog and a rabbit. Firefighters found the living room on fire,and the blaze spread to ' the kitchen and covered deck. Officials believe the unit next door suffered smoke damage, Gilmore said.Police had not ' established the cause of the fire or estimated the damage, he said. —Melissa Vargas DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE ( OF l MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED 1/19 / 0� DATE OF ARTICLE ' -7 1 -7 NEWSPAPER FWST SENTENCE ' EWe' ss man gets yeaur In a . for cruelty to ■The animal died less than a Chad Ellis of ' week after the scalding. Y t Euless testi } � fies during his By DOMINGO RAMIREZ JR. sentencing STAR TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER - � x hearing Tues- FORT WORTH-A Euless man ����: day.Ellis,who was sentenced year Tuesday"to a ear in pleaded guilty jail .for placing a dog in a washing to animal machine last year and then turning cruelty in the machine on. August,was The dog was scalded before man- sentenced to aging to escape but was caught and one year in locked in a closet for several days. . jail. , Eventually,the dog was taken to a" STAR TELEGRAM/TOM PENNINGTON Grapevine animal shelter,where-s)3e ` 'ing dogs from a neighborhood had to be euthanized after antibiot- near the Euless-Grapevine , ics failed to stop the swelling from border. the burns: As investigators canvassed Chad Ellis,32, cried shortly after the neighborhood, a resident taking the,,witness stand Tuesday told police about a suspicious morning during his sentencing. He man who walked around with had pleaded guilty to animal cruelty leashes. Investigators traced in August. the man W the 2900 block'of "I'm sorry,"Ellis said as his voice Kathleen Lane in Euless.` cracked. State District Judge Mike A woman_ invited_Euless,, .r Thomas called for a short recess to police into the home where allow Ellis to regain his composure. Ellis lived,and officers founds His_ parents sat quietly in the three dogs that had been re- courtroom of Criminal District ported missing, authorities Court No.4 in Fort Worth. said.Ellis was arrested shortly Ellis blamed his methamphet. after police searched the amine addiction for torturing the house;the dogs were returned year-old female black Labrador re- to their owners. triever mix in January 2006.The Eu- During the search, the less man said he began using the woman told police about find- Will drug in 2002,shortly after earning a ing the injured Labrador in a degree from Texas Tech University closet. and holding jobs with the Pepsi Co. In addition to jail,Ellis was and IBM. also sentenced to five years' But under questioning by a prose •probation on each of three cutor, Ellis admitted that no one counts of burglary of a build- forced him to torture the dog, ing and two counts of theft of which was a stray. Ellis also conceded that he wasn't .$1;500 to$20,000.The crimes. — which Ellis blamed on his forced to steal dogs from a Eu- need to buy drugs occurred less neighborhood last year. in the summer of 2005. The' w It was the reports of stolen probation sentences will,be dogs in February 2006 that served concurrently, the brought the animal cruelty judge said. case to light.Euless police be- gan checking reports of miss- Domingo Ramirez Jr.,817-685-3822 ramirez@star-telegram.com i 1 DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF ' MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR / DATE DIS TRIB UTED �� Cy U -7 DATE OF ARTICLE 1/1-1 ' b NEWSPAPER FWST 1 WILLIE MAE McCORMICK 11908-2007 She excelled in science education, public, service ® Willie Mae McCormick was She earned a master's degree People said she endeared the first woman on Euless' in chemistry from Hardin- herself to city employees by BU�18I City Council and stayed ac- Simmons University in AN- ! writing to them and attending tive after stepping"down. lene in 1932, then taught : `many city events. 1 p.m.today,weather permit- school and worked at the -"I cherish the many notes' ting,at Pleasant Ridge Ceme- By PATRICK McGEE weather bureau in Bi Spring. and letters Mrs. McCormick tery in Centerville. STAR TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER weather P g• During Works War II she has written me over the EULESS - Willie Mae Mc- worked as a chemist for Dow years," City Secretary Susan Cormick,,who in 1973 became Chemical in`Freeport'While Crim _said. "Even in recent the first woman on the City her husband,Walter "Mack," months when she was unable Council and"remained active in the community for the rest-of McCormick, served in the to leave.her,home,she kept.in_ her life,died at her home Satur-her he was stationed in.In- contact with people through i r dia. her correspondence. She was day.She was 98. In 1948, the couple moved well-known for writing letters 1 Mrs. McCormick was well- to Euless, where Walter Mc- of congratulations,to anyone known for her'handwritten let- Cormick's family had owned she heard- had received any Willie Mae Mc- ters of thanks and congratula- 120 acres since before the Civ- recognition or award.She was Cormick did ' tions to city employees.The let- it War. always thinking of others and extensive work ters and her work for the city In 1953, Mrs. McCormick encouraging others." with the Histor- continued long after her 12 years and her husband built another ical Preserva- on the council ended in 1985. house on the property,where Betty Fuller, chairwoman tion Committee, o' Historical Preservation the Library She did extensive work with she.lived for the rest of her the Historical Preservation life. Committee, said: "You have Board and other Committee, the Library Board Mrs. McCormick worked no idea how brilliant that groups.She was and other groups. woman was.She would write also known for as an engineer at Ling Temco- me 12-and 13 page letters." her handwritten Friends and city officials said '�,..Vought,an aeronautical com- In 1980, a city park was letters of thanks they inspired by her work pany in Grand Prairie.She re named for Mrs.McCormick. and congrat- for the city and her deter- tired in 1973,the same year she In 1998; Mrs:`McCormick ulations to city ' mined pursuit of education, was elected to the Euless City donated a historical barn on employees. which' tookher from rural Council. Texas to a career as a chemist' Harold Samuels served as her property to Heritage Park.By then,much of the land and public servant. mayor for most of Mrs. Mc- had been sold off,with only 7 Mrs. McCormick grew up Cormick's term on the coun- acres still in' Mrs. McCoy- on a farm in Pleasant Ridge, cil, including her 10 years as mick's possession. about 70 miles east of Waco, mayor pro tem. Samuels said Wilcox said some of the where she helped her parents she was a good public servant land was donated to the city ' and eight siblings tend to the 7 .1who often made the case for for road construction. family's cotton crop: . i ;paying female employees fair- Mrs. -McCormick's hus- She moved to a friend's ly, band died in 1995. All of her house in Jewett so she could "In budget meetings and siblings are also deceased. In attend and graduate from high other time's the council would addition to her daughter,sur- school. "get together, she always re- vivors include three grand- "You've got to remember minded us we needed to pay, children,five great-grandchil- this is in 1925, and women our female employees compa- dren and four great-great- didn't always fuiish ,school," rable to our male employees, grandchildren. said Elizabeth Wilcox, Mrs 'Samuels said."She was just in- McCormick's only.child..a ,_, valuable to me as mayor. Patrick McGee,817-685-3806 Mrs..McCormick went on , Hardworking,very smart and pmcgee@Star-tetegram.com to become the first in her fam- very dedicated to the city of ily to get a college education, Euless." earning a degree in math from ' the University of Mary Har- din-Baylor in Temple in 1929. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY GRIM HENNIG MCXAMIE RIDGIVAY(2) BOYETT YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED )/� - l 0 7 DATE OFARTICLE � �j� l G -7 NEWSPAPER FWST Weather' i* ng tstorii .-._ {f+', "•.. .ars .+ _. r .-.r.2f�,7:.;.:t�w�1�.ro -..;Na d #. Shoveling is warm work. Who needs a coat?Or even jeans? Dressed in shorts and a T-shirt and unbothered by the cold,Benjamin Fiefa,10,shovels away a thin layer of snow in front of his house in Euless.. Benjamin said the work was"fun"(probably more fun than being in school). Extreme winter sports in Texas Snowboard rider Andrew Justus,15, t flies off a skateboard ramp at the bottom of a road embank- I ment at Bob Eden Park in Euless.With school canceled for the day, `� " "� •;: w� Justus,his brother and a friend spent n 3 � '� •., �, fir:, ,,� the morning playing in the k snow. STAR-TELEGRAWKELLEY CHINN DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF l MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATEDISTRIBUTED_ l/I Gl O -7 DA TE OF ARTICLE �/� /� `7 NEWSPAPER FWST Ice scrapers a hot commodity At the AutoZone on Main Street in Euless,customers could tell how- messy the weather has been by how many ice scrapers and de-icing prod- ucts have been sold. ' The store hgs sold at least 350 ice scrapers since Sunday night,said Randy Russ,store manager.Also fly- ing off the shelves in recent days are ' batteries and de-icers for doorsteps and locks.Also,lots of windshield ' i f A special delivery ' a< to hungry residents EULESS — Hungry people avoiding icy roads put in early or- ders to pizza restaurants. Calls started pouring in at 10 a.m.at the Domino's center in Eu- less,which coordinates orders for 54 stores in the Metroplex and Austin, said a Domino's spokes- woman. Cinnamon sticks were ' huge sellers,too,she said. "We've been here five years,and .STAR lTELEGRAM an AutoZone GRAY there was only one time that we People have been filing into an AutoZone in Y Euless since:Sunday night to buy ice scrap- closed down early — at 8 p.m. — ers,de-icers and windshield wipers. because the weather was so bad," she said. "As long as the drivers wipers.. don't get in wrecks,we keep taking "We're bare,"he said."We have two orders pairs of windshield wipers left." "until midnight.—Terry Lee Goodrich